The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-03

What Some FAnciers Pay for Rare and Thor
oughbred Fowls.

| What Some Fanciers Pay for Rare and Thor
| oughbred Fowls.
! New York Mail and Express
fThe highest price that I ever knew q single
fowl to bring was $780, This was paid for the
champion Plymouth Rock cockerel at she New
orleans exposition two years ago. 1t was raised
oy hon. Sid Conger, OF Indiana, who divided his
time between His poultry farm and the State
Senate"
The above remark was made to a reporter to-
day by Mr.. J. Frank Clark, vice president of the
New FORK Poultry Exchange.
'Sales Of fancy fowls at high prices" Mr.
Clark continued, ARE not SO rare as many peo-
pie suppose. At the last poultry show in this
city Mr.. w. K. Vanderbilt paid $25 for Ply
mouth Rock cockerel, and breeding pens of the
same variety, numbering five birds, sold st
from $50 to 800. Five buff Cochins were
sold for SIS, and the late Miss Catherine
Wolfe bought half a dozen Wyandottes
for $lOO- l know gentleman that went to the
premium zen of Plymouth Rocks five fowls).
but he came away without them. The owners
price was So, 600. There are instances record
OF bantams being sold for as high $50 each.
Taking into consideration their weight, which is
less than two pounds, this is rather dear chicken
meat The special value in this was
due to the bird having first premium
at the Crystal Palace and other English shows
The value of thoroughbred fowls depends on
their comparative merit, which is determined by
a system of scoring. Expert judges compare
each fowl With a standard of excellence which
allows 100 points for perfection, and deducts
therefrom for every fault or deficiency that the
possesses ec1eu-
tific breeding to produce fowls that will 80
or more points. and such birds always sci, at
good prices. Rare specimens scoring from SO to
50 points are literally worth their weight in gold
There ia a fashion in fowls in most other
things, and a very changeable fashion it is, too.
Two years ago the Wyandottes were all the rage,
now the boom is in Minorcas. Within the past
year over five hundred Minorcas have been
bought in England and brought over here at
cost of So to $3.50 each. There is now corner
in these famous fowls. They an old En-
glish breed, but have been in obscurity for a
number of years, and few of them have been
raised Every nook and corner of old England
every Minorca purchased. regardless of cost and
held for breeding purposes. and for the sale Of
eggs at from So to $40 for q setting of thirteen.
How the boom started is not very clear but it is
certain that the Minorcas have been gradually
growing in favor on the other side for some
time, and American breeders, seeing tho popu-
rush, captured every available specimen and now
control the market.
what other fowls bring high priees!" Well,
there Yokohamas japanese lone-tailed
fowls. Only two three pairs of them have
been imported, and they are valued at from $40
to $50 pair The tail of the male bird often
creases in proportion. Another rarity is the
Royal pekin bantam. These little birds have
quite a remarkable history. They
sDoils taken by English officer. when
they sacked the summer palace at Pekin, during
the Anglo French expedition of 1860. They are
perleos immature Oh the DUN Cocnlns' ana ABOUT
as handsome as any variety Of bantams. They
are worth from $40 to $25 a pair, though
single specimens have brought as high as
$50 But there is one kind of fowl that has,
without doubt. caused the transfer of more
money than all tho above varieties combined,
aud that is the pit game These birds arc bred
to fight and are seldom sold, one wants to
buy the poor ones. and the good ones will bring
in more money by winning battles than in any
other way. Occasionally, however, q game cock
that has made a good record changes hands, the
consideration in such instances reaching to hun
dreds of dollars, but for obvious reasons is never
ia nh